(Football news) The Seagulls are looking to snap a four-game losing streak in all competitions, while the Citizens are trying to avoid losing in the top division for the third time in as many games since 2016.
Manchester City had an unusual run of three losses in four games across all competitions, so it was probably a good idea for them to take a break during the international break in October. Their lone triumph in the last four weeks was a 3-1 Champions League group-stage victory against RB Leipzig.
After losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and Newcastle United in the EFL Cup, Manchester City was hoping that their victory over Leipzig would serve as a springboard to improve their situation ahead of their matchup with Arsenal in the top flight. But a lacklustre performance coupled with a late deflection goal from Gabriel Martinelli condemned the Citizens to back-to-back league losses for just the second time in manager Pep Guardiola’s tenure. The final score was a narrow 1-0 setback in North London.
The reigning premier league champions now find themselves sitting third in the table, two points behind both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur after eight games. Manchester City only managed one shot on target against the Gunners, which is astonishingly the fewest shots a Guardiola team has ever produced in a league fixture for more than a decade.
Erling Haaland’s scoring drought came to an end before he donned his shooting boots for Norway’s international team, while Manchester City’s domestic slump corresponded with the absence of suspended lynchpin Rodri. Still, Guardiola is optimistic that his team “will come back stronger” as they go after a Premier League title that would set a record four times in a row.
Manchester City will undoubtedly be happy to be back at the Etihad this weekend after suffering their recent wobble over four straight away games. In their last 20 games across all competitions, they have won every game, a club record, scoring 65 goals and giving up only 10 goals.
The Citizens have a stellar record against Brighton as well, having won 11 of their previous 13 home league meetings, drawn two, and never lost. City has defeated the Seagulls by an average of 24-3 in their last nine home games, including a 3-1 triumph the previous season.
Although Roberto De Zerbi’s team salvaged 2-2 draws in their last two Premier League and Europa League games against Liverpool and Marseille, respectively, there has been a decline in Brighton’s play over the past month. The team has only won one of their last five games across all competitions.
Mohamed Salah’s brace put Liverpool on track to win all three points on the South Coast, but Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk pulled one back 12 minutes from time to salvage a point from an exciting match that ended in a draw. This is the Seagulls’ first league draw of the year after winning five and losing two of their first seven games.
Brighton’s impressive possession-based play has earned them a lot of praise, but their defensive shortcomings have been on display all season long. In 11 games across all competitions, the Seagulls have failed to keep a clean sheet; their last clean sheet came in a 3-0 victory over Arsenal in mid-May.
Although Brighton has lost its past three away games, they have already earned all three points in Manchester this season thanks to an outstanding 3-1 triumph over Manchester United in September. Brighton will try to turn that around at the Etihad on Saturday.
The Seagulls, who are currently sixth in the Premier League standings, have only ever defeated Man City once in a league match, winning 3-2 at home in May 2021—albeit after the Citizens had already been declared champions. This weekend’s victory would give them a boost as it would move them above Guardiola’s team, who is currently in third place.
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